Friday, June 20, 2008

I need some help getting my dining room put together. It is connected to our living room, which is where the computer desk and our "nice" furniture is. The couches are a pale green. I'm thinking of putting up a curtain rod and some sheer curtains. I also want to put a narrow shelf (I have 18 in.) to house some our our learning materials, since this is where B and I have been doing our summer learning activities.

Here's the dilemma: should I get two shelves to put on each side of the window? Or just get one and find something decorative to put on the other side. I realize this is a taste thing, based on whether you like symmetry or not? Keep in mind it's a tight spot, not an extra inch of space to spare. But I still want to know what people think would look better. Here you will find an example of what kind of shelf I'm looking into getting. I also like this very much. Would it look odd to have two different shelves on each side? Like the metal shelves on one side and the wicker basket shelves on the other? Should it be the same on each side of the window? I just don't know which way to go: classically symmetrical or modern and unsymmetrical, which is obviously why I'm asking for others' opinions.

Here is a [crappy] picture our our dining room. Never mind the full table, I'm in project mode this morning and working there. It "usually" looks pristine [ha].


Okay - thoughts?

11 comments:

Mimi said...

Okay!

I would do two shelves, precisely BECAUSE it's such a tight spot. I would hold off thinking about the window treatment until the shelves are in -- I think you might find that because the shelves are going to be so close to the window, that you don't have room for proper drapes: maybe you might layer a fabric sort of blind over something more sheer?

Anonymous said...

have you thought about corner shelves? They would just round off the corners of the room instead of shrinking your window wall. If you look up "corner shelves" on @mazon.com you will see what I'm talking about. If you get the "instant" shelves, they would look less intrusive as a closed back shelf unit. Although they wouldn't hold as many books . . .

Mimi in the Midwest said...

I love the 2 shelf plan. You could add cool boxes or baskets. I think a valance would look very sheek! I love the color of the walls. And when you get old(er), like me, you can have a room that you leave projects in and just walk away and shut the door. I love it but miss my kids.

Mimi in the Midwest said...

Oh my! I meant chic but I guess sheek would be good, too. (You could make up your own definition for that word.)

Midwest Beach Girl said...

Are you a plant person now that Mason is too old to crawl over and eat the dirt? :)

If you think two shelves is too cramped, go for a plant to balance. Otherwise, I'd do two. I like balance. I also like KT's corner shelf idea.

Jenifer said...

I agree with Mimi and I would do two shelves on either side...I like the shelf/basket combination. We bought a wrought iron smaller style and I am not so crazy about, it shows everything and smaller items fall through.

As for the window something simple and not too wide, maybe one or two tab panels, but not enough to cover it all completely.

Bea said...

I have an Ikea corner cabinet that I love - it's discontinued, or I would get another one. I think in a space like that I'd prefer the symmetry - perhaps two of the first shelf you linked to (the second one is a bit too attention-grabbing - two of it might seem too much).

Bea said...

Oops, I missed the wicker baskets. I think you could pair that with either of the shelves without seeming too asymmetrical - is it similar in height? If you don't like how the basket-stand looks when you get it there, it's the kind of thing you could use in lots of places, I would think.

LoriAnn said...

Would you feel comfortable taking down the shade completely and putting up just a valance? Or adding a valance over the shade and trying to keep the shade open as much as possible - open up the space and let the light in. I'm assuming there is no HVAC vent on either side of the window on the floor- if there is, you'll probably have to put something on one side (I love the one with wicker!) - I'm almost seeing one side with the baskets and the other with a shelf that holds wine bottles and wine glasses underneath. Or a plant stand on one side and shelves on the other. Whatever you choose, good for you for all the happy changes you're blessing your home with!

nikkis30by30 said...

I think the wicker basket shelf is a great idea because you can "hide" all of the little things like pencils, pens, markers, stickers, etc. And if you put the other metal shelf on the other side, you can put the books, etc. there. I think it will look fine with something on both sides, as long as you keep them somewhat similar, like the wicker and metal shelves. Does that makes sense? I know that you are on thought overload with all the comments. Do what YOU like. The rest of the house is awesome.... this will be too!!!!

kristi said...

I was thinking of corner shelves too. That way you could get a nice drape if you wanted to.